Tuning In: Holy Cross radio sidekicks astute, emotional

Bob Fouracre works with two different analysts on Holy Cross football radio broadcasts.

Make that very different.

Tom Kelleher and Gordie Lockbaum are former HC football stars and 1988 graduates and for the second year in a row they’re rotating as analysts alongside Fouracre’s play by play. HC football games can be heard on WTAG (580 AM) and (94.9 FM) and on goholycross.com.

“Two different guys,” Fouracre said. “Gordie is more Xs and Os. He’s a real student of the game and Big Red (Kelleher) sells Holy Cross. He’s a cheerleader. He’s very positive. The glass is always half-full. We can be down by three touchdowns with a minute to go and if we score he still thinks we have a chance to win.”

“That’s just being a loyal Holy Cross fan,” Kelleher said, “who bleeds Purple and wants the best for our program.”

Kelleher gets so wrapped up in what he’s saying, sometimes he’s still talking when the ball is snapped, forcing Fouracre to have to play catch-up on the air.

Lockbaum’s ability to play offense and defense helped him become a Heisman Trophy finalist twice and an astute radio analyst.

“He sees the whole field, both sides of the ball,” Fouracre said. “He can see things develop.”

“I’m trying to break down the play,” Lockbaum said, “and give some insight as to why it was or was not effective. Maybe who blew it up or made a key block.”

Kelleher worked the season-opening loss to New Hampshire and will join Fouracre when HC hosts Dartmouth at 1 p.m. tomorrow. Lockbaum worked last week’s home loss to Brown. Kelleher and Lockbaum and the rest of the 1987 HC team will be honored tomorrow 25 years after they finished 11-0.

Fouracre compared Lockbaum favorably with his first HC radio broadcast partner, the late Mel Massucco, a former HC player and coach.

“He would sometimes not say a word for three plays,” Fouracre said, “because he was up there like a scout watching certain things and then when he said something it was very strong, very powerful and on the money most of the time. He might take two plays to watch that offensive line just to see what they were doing and make sure why things are happening the way they’re happening.”

Massucco thought before he spoke, a tact too many analysts ignore.

“Color commentators today in every sport,” Fouracre said, “think they have to talk after every play. They don’t have to. What’s there to dissect when a guy dives into the middle and picks up a yard?”

Lockbaum replaced Massucco and worked alongside Fouracre for six years. Greg Dickerson filled in for two seasons and Kelleher worked 11 before he took a sales management position for a database firm in Florida. So he’s shared the role with Lockbaum for the past two years, paying his own airfare to games from his home in Palm Beach. The three-hour flights to Boston don’t take as long as driving from Worcester to Bucknell or Colgate, but they cost more.

“It’s a labor of love,” he said. “I enjoy being part of the program. It allows me to stay involved.”

Kelleher and Lockbaum will each analyze four games this fall. Neither of them will be available for games at Colgate, Lafayette and Wagner and Fouracre isn’t sure who will join him then.

Fouracre picks HC to finish first or second in the Patriot League. Lehigh won the league the past two years and should contend again this fall. HC hosts Lehigh on Nov. 3.

“That will be the game of the year,” Fouracre said.

This is Fouracre’s 51st year in broadcasting and his 42nd on HC radio or TV. Fouracre will turn 75 on Nov. 22, but he never tires of the games and it’s not because HC has had seven consecutive winning seasons.

“If we had seven consecutive losing seasons, I’m just excited,” he said. “I love the game. I like broadcasting.”

Fouracre enjoys it so much that he arrives at Fitton Field at 9 a.m. for his 12:30 p.m. pregame shows.

“He’s such a character,” Lockbaum said. “He was made for radio. He just enjoys it so much.”

“I hope I’m doing what he’s doing at the age he is,” Kelleher said. “He loves it and being around someone who’s passionate about what he’s doing is inspiring.”

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